REUTERS/Bruno Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSAO PAULO, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Severe drought in the Amazon is forcing Brazilian grain exporters to divert a small number of export cargos to southern port terminals instead of northern ports, grain exporters group Anec said on Wednesday. Brazil is the world's biggest soybean exporter and expected to overtake the U.S. this year as top corn exporter. The drought, which has limited volumes of grain transported on barges via northern ports in recent days, will not impact Brazilian overall grain exports this year, Anec said. Anec is maintaining projections for record 2023 Brazilian soy exports at 99 million metric tons, and record corn exports between 52 million and 53 million tons, Mendes said. From January to August, 44% of Brazil's corn exports went through four main northern ports including Barcarena, Itaqui, Itacoatiara and Santarem, according to crop agency Conab, while some 31% of corn shipments from Brazil left through Santos.

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Persons: Bruno Kelly, Anec, Sergio Mendes, Mendes, Ana Mano, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, SAO PAULO, ADM, Cargill, Thomson Locations: Rio Negro, Manaus, Brazil, China, Santos, Mato Grosso, Itacoatiara, Santarem